Flood-fence



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID C. WILKINSON, OF SIDNEY, OHIO.

FLOOD-FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,599, dated November 6. 1860.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID C. IVILKINSON, of Sidney, in the county of Shelby and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in F lood-Fences; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

This invention relates to the class of fences which are adapted to give way at their upper portion to the action of such freshets as would otherwise endanger their permanence, and consists in a construction of worm fence with interlocking panels supported securely at top without the use of stakes, braces or high posts, either rigid or pivoted, and so hinged to ground posts as to yield readily to the current as will be hereinafter explained.

The accompanying drawings represent in its erect position a fence embodying my mvention.

A are posts secured in the represented worm or zigzag manner in the ground above which they rise a short distance.

B, B, are separately framed panels. The alternate panels B have projecting top rails C, notched below so as in the erected fence to firmly interlock with notches in the top of the intermediate panels B.

From the lower corners of all the panels round gudgeons E enter bearings F, F. Of the said bearings those F of the panels B are round, while those F of the intermediate panels B are oblong and flare somewhat upward so as in time of flood to permit the buoyancy of said intervening panels B to elevate them with respect to the alternate panels B, thus unlocking the entire fence and allowing it to assume the position. of least resistance to the flowing water, drift, &c.

Upon the subsidence of the water the now prostrate fence will be found uninjured and can be easily and firmly reerected, the sole moving parts being the panels themselves.

I am aware that various plans have been employed to support fences at the base in such a manner that in the event of a flood they will be released by buoyancy and allowed to fall and I am also aware that flood fences have been supported at top by braces and posts pivoted or otherwise. The superiority of my improvement consists in so constructing a flood fence as that it will be securely held at its upper part without the use of braces, high posts or other special appliance for this purpose.

I claim as new and of my invention herein The combination of the alternate zigzag panels B C and B, gudgeons E, oblong bearings F, and cylindrical bearings F, the said parts being so constructed and arranged as to operate in connection substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

D. G. \VILKINSON. Witnesses S. D. BEDINLAUGH, H. THOMPSON. 

